Cloth laying machine



Nov. 14, 1939. J. N, SMITH CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

0171 (Sm/7A.

Nov. 14, 1939.

J. N. SMITH 2.l80,072

CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 2 NOV. 14, 1939. N $M|TH 2,180,072

' CLOTH LAYING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 14, 1939- J. N. SMITH CLOTH LAYING MACHINE 4 Sheefs-Sheet 4 Filed June 16, 1938 Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES rATE T oFFicE' CLO-TH LAYING MACHINE ApplicationJune 16, 1938, Serial No. 214,061 In Great Britain July 14, 1937 '7 Claims.

This invention relates to cloth laying machines of the type in which a carriage carrying the roll of cloth traverses over a stationary laying table.

According to the invention the carriage is provided with projections adapted to engage cam levers at the end of each traverse to operate pairs of gripping arms arranged at each end of the table, the pairs of gripping arms being first moved outwards to disengage the previous fold then vertically and finally inwards before assuming their initial position to form a succeeding fold on the return of the carriage.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of machine. Fig. 2 is a part side elevation of same enlarged. Fig. 3 is a plan of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are side elevation and plan respectively of cam levers D D and gripping arms C.

Fig. 6 is a section of bearing for shaft 0 Fig. 7 is a side elevation of delivery rollers.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of same.

The laying table A is constructed with a horizontal surface supported on legs A U shaped rails a are arranged along each side of the table on the outer flanges of which travel the wheels b of a carriage B upon which is mounted a roll of cloth B carried on brackets b ora plait of cloth lying horizontally on the carriage. The cloth from the roll or plait passes over suitable tension, stretching and guiding rollers 12 and finally through adjustable delivery rollers b on to the table A.

The delivery rollers 11 are adjustable in height above the table A and may be raised by rotation of a hand wheel b through gearing b or the gearing may be driven by the carriage at each reversal thereof, whereby the distance'of the rollers 40 from the table may be increased as the pile of cloth laid on the table increases in depth. The

carriage is propelled along the table A by handles 11 or it may be driven by an electric or other motor mounted thereon or by two motors mounted on the table.

At the end of each traverse of the carriage A the layer of cloth laid is engaged by a pair of gripping arms C mounted on the table A which as the carriage returns to lay the succeeding layer prevent the previous layer from being withdrawn from the table.

Each pair of gripping arms C is mounted on a base C extending between the rails 01. to the inner flanges of which it is clamped by wing nuts 0.

The gripping arms C comprise a pair of L shaped levers 0 one at each side of the table, pivoted at one end on vertical pins 0 carried by arms 0 mounted on a shaft 0 extending transversely of the table and supported in brackets 0 carried by the base C The levers c are connected by links d to cam levers D pivoted on the shaft 0 at each side of the table A. Two further cam levers D one at each side of the table are keyed to the shaft 0 The cam levers D are shorter than the cam levers D and are normally in advance of these latter levers.

The carriage B is provided'with two pairs of projections b, b one pair 12 adapted to engage the camv levers D D at one end of the table and the other pair 22 adapted to engage the cam levers D D at the other end of the table as the carriage is reciprocated thereover.

As the carriage B approaches the end of its travel in either direction one or other of the pairs of projections b" b engage the cam levers D causing them to rock on the shaft 0 thereby pivoting the L shaped levers c outwards into the position shown in Fig. 3 and in dotted lines in Fig. 5 further movement of the carriage caus ing the projections to engage the cam levers D to raise the gripping arms C into the position shown in Fig. 2 with the L shaped levers 0 still extended. The projections b or b override the cam levers D which under the action of a spring d close the L shaped levers c to their .normal position. Adjustable spring buifers or stops D are clamped on to the outer flange of the rail a to prevent the carriage B from travelling too far in either direction.

On the return movement of the carriage B the weight of the levers C lowers them into their initial position the projections b or 11 moving the cam levers D out of their path against the action of a spring 01 Without operating the links 40 d. The positions of the cam levers D relatively to the cam levers D is adjusted by a screw 01 carried by a bracket d on the lever D The lever D is formed in two portions 03 and cl pivoted together to cause both portions to move to- 5 gether on the forward movement of the carriage but allowing the portion 01 to move independently on the return movement of the carriage.

In laying the cloth on the table A it is held at eachend by the gripping arms 0 and drawn oif 50 the carriage B through the delivery rollers b the movement of the arms C at the end of the travel of the carriage in each direction releasing the arms from the previous fold of cloth and replacing them on the upper surface of the pile 55 of cloth in position to re-engage the cloth on the return stroke.

The table A may be calibrated so that in setting the base members the required length of cloth is laid at each passage of the carriage. The gripping arms C on one side of the table are provided with a pointer c for setting the base members 0 in the required position.

A knife edge may be provided on the edge of the lever c to cut the cloth at each side of the fold to indicate the line or pins c may be provided to grip the cloth as it is folded over the levers 0 In the laying of cloth it is important that the length laid on the table shall be exact in each layer and accordingly the radial movement of the gripping arms C must be compensated and for this purpose a vertical pillar E is mounted on each base C at each side of the table, engaged by studs e carrying rollers e projecting from the arms 0 The shaft 0 is mounted in bearings c in the brackets which allow it limited horizontal movement therein against the action of springs c as shown in 6. The movement of the arms 0 in the pillar E causes the gripping arms C to move substantially vertically during the radial movement about the shaft 0 Where it is desired however to give a precise vertical movement to the gripping arms the pillars E are formed with a cam surface 6 the profile of which compensates exactly for the radial movement of the arms C over the range required for the depth of cloth piled on the table A.

A clip may be provided on the base C to engage the cam lever D to hold the gripping arms C clear of the table for insertion and removal of the cloth.

Thus with a machine as described above, successive layers of cloth may be laid on the table each of which may be exactly the same length.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A cloth laying machine comprising a stationary laying table, a shaft extending transversely of the table, a pair of gripping arms formed in two portions mounted on the shaft and a vertical pin by which the two portions are pivoted together, a pair of cam levers loosely mounted on the shaft, links connecting the cam levers to the gripping arms, a second pair of cam levers keyed to the shaft, a carriage carrying the cloth traversed to and fro over the table, and projections on the carriage to operate the cam levers for opening the gripping arms.

2. A cloth laying machine comprising a stationary laying table, a shaft extending transversely of the table, a pair of gripping arms formed in two portions mounted on the shaft and a vertical pin by which the two portions are pivoted together, a pair of cam levers loosely mounted on the shaft, links connecting the cam levers to the gripping arms, a second pair of cam levers keyed to the shaft, a carriage carrying the cloth traversed to and fro over the table projections on the carriage to operate the cam levers for opening, raising and returning the gripping arms.

3. A cloth laying machine comprising a stationary laying table, a shaft extending transversely of the table, a pair of gripping arms formed in two portions mounted on the shaft and a vertical pin by which the two portions are pivoted together, a pair of cam levers loosely mounted on the shaft, links connecting the cam levers to the gripping arms, a second pair of cam levers keyed to the shaft, a carriage carrying the cloth traversed to and fro over the table, projections on the carriage to operate the cam levers for opening, raising and returning the gripping arms and means for regulating the relative positions of the cam levers.

4. A cloth laying machine as in claim 1, comprising the combination with the shaft of brackets, and spring bearings carried by the brackets to compensate for the radial movement of the gripping arms.

5. A cloth laying machine as in claim 1 comprising the combination with the shaft of brackets, spring bearings carried by the brackets and vertical pillars to constrain the ends of the gripping arms to move substantially vertically.

6. A cloth laying machine as in claim 1 comprising the combination with the shaft of brackets, spring bearings carried by the brackets, vertical pillars to constrain the ends of the gripping arms to move substantially vertically and cam faces on the vertical pillars to compensate for the radial movement of the arms.

'7. A cloth laying machine as in claim 1 comprising the combination with the table of U-shaped rails upon which the carriage is mounted, a base member adjustably bolted to the rails, brackets mounted on the base member to support the shaft and spring buffers on the rails to limit the movement of the carriage in either direction.

JOHN NORMAN SMITH. 

